Visit Grand Canyon Archeological Sites Hidden For Centuries.

Discover ancient places where people lived long ago.
The National Park Service (NPS) and the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) excavated nine archaeological sites along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon during three years of fieldwork. The NPS/MNA excavation project was the first major archaeological excavation to occur along the river corridor in Grand Canyon in nearly 40 years. The NPS has a "preservation-in-place" mandate, and excavates archaeological sites only when they cannot be stabilized and preserved in place. These sites were disappearing due to erosion; artifacts were literally washing into the river. Because these sites were being lost, the NPS initiated excavations to learn more about the people who lived here before the archaeological evidence of their lives in the canyon was completely gone.
Archaeologists excavated the sites, exposing them for a few days or weeks during which time these videos were taken. Immediately after excavation, the sites were reburied to protect them from further damage from exposure to the elements and possible damage from visitation. This video and the virtual tour (below) is now the only way to experience these places where people once lived.
Take an intereactive 360 degree virtual tour of the archeological sites by visiting this link. www.nps.gov/features/grca/001/...

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Thanks. An exhibit is currently being finalized and assembled to open sometime this spring or summer. It will first open in the park at Kolb Studio in the South Rim Village. The show may travel later in the year. The exhibit dates will be announced on the park's website.

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February 2013 Update. The exhibit travels from time to time - but as of this update, it is not on display.